Commerce Ministry unleashes a private sector development strategy plan JUBA, 15 June 2013 – The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment has unleashed a four-pillar strategy document, Private Sector Development Strategy (PSDS) aimed at developing the private sector in South Sudan.
Presiding over a Consultation Workshop held at Quality Hotel in Juba on 14 June to make final and critical recommendations to the document, the Acting Undersecretary John Pan Paguir said the document aims at helping the government in creating appropriate environment for private sector development while indentifying constraints that inhibit the development of the private sector. “A strong and vibrant private sector is what South Sudan needs. A strong private sector will act as a tool to provide the much needed employment opportunity to our people” Mr. Paguir said. Mr. Panguir speaking to the press. [Photo: Matata safi] Much hope, he said has been placed in the strategy which indentified four pillars on which private sector development will rest. He named the pillars as the South Sudan Investment Climate Reform Programme, the South Sudan Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Programme, the South Sudan Access to Finance Programme and Physical Markets and Institution Building Programme. Mr. Paguir who made the remarks on half of the minister of Commerce Hon. Garang Diing Akoung, said his Ministry will put emphasis in developing the administrative and regulatory environment in spearheading the private sector development in the country. This he said would include taking business registration hubs to the states and developing the capacity of the customs officers in order to improve the flow of International trade. Participants at the workshop [Photo: Matata Safi] Mr. Paguir also underscored the need to very fast diversify the economy saying the economy of the country can not only relay on oil to fuel its economy. He said South Sudan could become the “Dubai” of Africa if attention is given to explore its rich resources. “Rwanda has a vibrant economy without oil; Botswana also has a booming economy when they do not have oil” said Mr. Pauir. The strategy was supported by the International Financial Cooperation (IFC) and took eighteen months to be prepared after wide consultations with the public private sectors, donor members and the diplomatic communities among others. The workshop attacked representatives from the government, Private sector, civil society and donor community. Reported by Matata Safi Committee on OP thefts releases findings JUBA, 14 June 2013 - The committee formed by the President of the Republic Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit to investigate the thefts that occurred in March in the Western Wing of the administrative block under the Office of the President has released its findings. The committee chaired by Justice John Gatwech Lul has found incompetence, gross negligence and lack of inter-departmental communications as some of the factors that may have led to the March 15 and 23 thefts. Justice Lul addressing the press today. [Photo: Matata Safi] The committee also put the total amount of the money stolen at 208, 543 South Sudanese Pounds and USD 14, 000 as opposed to the "millions" earlier reported in the media. Justice Lul, who is also the chairperson of the South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission, said the committee has already handed over the findings to the President. H.E President Kiir in the wake of the incidents issued a Republican Order No. 01/2013 forming the committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the theft. Click here to read the full report. Reported by Matata Safi Farmers urged to form associations JUBA, 14 June 2013 - The national minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Cooperatives and Rural development Hon. Betty Achan Ogwaro has urged farmers to form associations if they are to fight food insecurity in the country. Addressing farmers from Eastern Equatoria's Magwi County on Tuesday, Hon. Achan urged the farmers to work hard in order to promote cereal productivition in the area. Hon. Achan who was hosted by the State’s minister of Agriculture Mark Akiu, visited five progressive famer’s groups at selected locations in the county supported by the FARM Project Organization. Agriculture minister Hon. Achan being shown a high quality banana produced from one of the farms. [Photo: Gabriel Lawrence] The visit, Hon. Achan said was to assess how the farmers are progressing in terms of agricultural production this rain season and to understand their challenges. Hon. Achan who underscored the government's committment in supporting farms groups urged the farmers not to wait for government support to start production. “Do not wait for the government support to begin cultivating. Start and the government support will come when you have already began”, Hon. Achan said. Maize is one of the major crops grown in the area besides cassava, sweet potatoes, ground nuts and bananas among others Mr.Oyet Moses, a member of Ayfat farmers group called on the government to provide their groups with quality seeds and pesticides. He said most of the seeds being used by the farmers are of low quality and not resistant to drought and pests. Reported by Gabriel Lawrence “It’s time to work for a peaceful South Sudan”, former militia JUBA, 14 June 2013 – Former militia leader Gen. Johnson Olony who denounced rebellion against the people and government of South Sudan recently has called on other militia groups still at large to lay down the weapons and heed the amnesty declared by the President of the Republic of South Sudan H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit. Formerly based in South Sudan’s Unity State, Gen. Olony came back with over two thousand fighters and weapons. He reported to the Government in Unity State last week and decleared it is time for all South Sudanese to work for a peaceful country. “It’s now time to work together to fulfill the dream of the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir”, Gen. Olony stated. This brings to three the number of militia groups which have joined South Sudan government since independence nearly two years ago. Major General James Guit accepted the government amnesty last year. Babiny Monytuil, leader of another militia group also joined the national government early this year. “This is where you were born and grew up, you are South Sudanese and this country belongs to all of us,” said General Johnson Gony Buliu of the national army SPLA who received the group according to a press release from the country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. David Yau Yau in Jongolei’s Pibor country and Gordon Kong who is fighting in Unity State and Upper Nile state remain the only two militia groups that are yet to take advantage of the amnesty issued by H.E President Kiir on the July 9 2011. Please click here to read the press release. Reported by Matata Safi Reformed rebels to convince Yau Yau JUBA, 14 June 2013 (NASS) - The political wing of the rebel groups which have taken up the amnesty given by the President have promised to help the government win back the renegade David Yau Yau, the only remaining rebel who has not respond to the pardon. The efforts were revealed yesterday during a meeting with the minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin. Tut Gatluak who heads the political wing says communication is going very well and that there is a possibility that Yau Yau will be in Juba in the next few days. He also disclosed that Johnson Olony was on his way to Juba while their general commander Gordon Kong was also preparing to come. Tut further appealed to the government of South Sudan to help Khartoum reach a consensus with the rebels in Sudan to allow the two nations to enjoy peace and stability. Dr. Benjamin welcomed the initiative saying it will help in nation building. In a separate development, the Chinese telecommunication company ZTE yesterday donated the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting a number of television facilities to enhance the quality broadcasts. ZTE is the company chosen by the government of South Sudan to work in the transformation of country’s information and communications systems from analogue to digital. It is one of the leading Chinese telecommunication companies competing internationally in manufacturing digital facilities with Samsung, Apple and Nokia. Earlier, South Sudanese Olympic marathoner Guor Marial has also called on the youth to stand with the government in building the nation. Guor who is now an American citizen said there are many athletes and business people working with the government to build the country. Reported by Francis Oliver Kenyi and Martin Jada Gabriel, News Agency of South Sudan (NASS) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14ooHbpVUZHvO2G9Z01a%3DabnFo7-kihCpfEpZD4JgNL6uBg%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
